Automatic means for ventilating buildings.



D. F. SPEER.

AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR VENTILATING BUILDINGS.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 19,06.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

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AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR VENTILATING BUILDINGS.

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Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

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DAVID F. SPEER, OF DENVER. COLORADO.

AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR VENTILATING BUILDINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Application filed February 12, 1906. Serial No. 300,788.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID F. Srnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Means for Ventilating Buildings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means controlled by the action of the wind for automatically ventilating buildings.

Broadly stated my invention consists of suitable ventilating devices controlled by a shaft to whose outer extremity is connected a weather vane projecting above the building and exposed to the action of the wind. The shaft of this vane in this particular instance or in the construction which will be hereinafter specifically described, carries a cam provided with an eccentric groove into which protrude the extremities of operating levers suitably connected with windows, doors or valves which may be opened and closed at pleasure through the instrumentality of the mechanism.

An important feature of my invention consists in the means whereby the opening and closing of windows or other ventilating devices may be controlled automatically in such a manner that the ventilating device may if desired always be open on the side opposite that from which the wind blows, thus preventing the introduction of un healthful drafts to the building. This is an important feature whether the building is occupied by people or animals.

It is often important especially where valuable stock is kept, that they be protected from undue drafts of air from the outside of the building. As the wind is always liable to change during the night, it will be understood that it is exceedingly important that automatic means be provided to close the window, door or other ventilating device on the side of the building from which the wind blows and open a corresponding device on the side opposite that from which the wind blows. Of course the reverse of this could be accomplished in case the weather was very warm and it should be found desirable to allow the wind to blow into the building for purposes of cooling or ventilation or even for refrigeration.

laving briefly outlined my improvement, I will proceed to describe the same in detail reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodi ment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a building equipped with my improvements. F 2 is a top plan view of the same with the roof removed and the operating shaft shown in section. This view may be called a section taken on the line 2-2 Fig. 1 looking downwardly. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the structure.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the building to be ventilated, the same being provided with windows (3 adapted to be raised and lowered through the instrumentality of a vertical shaft 7 provided with an exposed weather vane 8. This shaft 7 is journaled in the roof of the house as shown at 9, while its lower extremity engages a step box 10 preferably located in the attic. Made fast to this shaft, is a cam 12 having a groove 13 into which project the upper extremities of levers 14:, 15, 16 and 17 respectively.

The levers 14: and 15 are fulcrumed at 18 and 19. Assuming that the levers 14: and 15 are oppositely located as shown in Fig. 1, it is evident that as the cam 12 is rotated, that the upper extremities of these levers will be simultaneously thrust to their limit of movement toward the left when the cam is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The levers 16 and 17 will be similarly actuated when they occupy the corresponding positions in the cam groove, that is to say one being at the minimum distance and the other at the miximum distance from the center of rotation.

It is evident from what has been explained, that suitable connections may be made with the ventilating windows or other devices, whereby opposite movements may be imparted to the two ventilating devices.

As shown in the drawing the lower extremities of the levers 14;, 15, 16 and 17, are pivotally connected with rods A, B, O and D, these rods being respectively connected with bell crank levers 20, 21, 22 and 28. The outer extremities of these rods are connected with the arms E, F, G and H of the said levers, while to their opposite arms I are attached connecting rods J, K, L and M. The outer extremities of these last named rods are connected with arms N of levers O, which are fulcrumed as shown at P and rovided with arms Q, connected with the top of the ventilating devices 6 by rods R;

The bell crank levers are fulcrumed at S whereby they are allowed to turn freely. Their arms opposite connecting rods 1, J, K, L and M, are connected by means of coil springs T with a suitable stationary support, whereby there is always a tendency to draw the arms E, F, G and H of the bell cranks inwardly. Hence as soon as any bell crank has been actuated to place the spring under tension this tension will of course act to return the bell crank to its normal position as soon as it is allowed to do so. This spring action of the levers will return the ventilating devices to their normal position.

It must be understood that my invention is not limited to any particular construction of weather vane since this weather vane may be any sort of a wind motor which changes position with the change of the winds direction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

The combination with a building to be ventilated, of ventilating devices movably mounted thereon, a wind motor journaled in the top of the building and automatically operating the ventilating devices as the wind changes, suitable connections between the motor and the ventilating devices comprising a cam, levers having their upper extremities engaging the cam, intermediate rods connected with the other extremities of the said levers, spring actuated bell cranks connected with said rods, and rocker shafts connecting said bell cranks with the ventilating devices, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID F. SPEER. Witnesses DENA NELSON, A. J. OBRIEN. 

